Winneshiek County has been officially recognized as a "StormReady" county

Posted: Mon, Jun 18, 2018 12:38 PM

National Weather Service's Todd Shea (far right) poses with Winneshiek County officials

La Crosse National Weather Service Office Warning Coordination Meteorologist Todd Shea has officially recognized Winneshiek County as being a "StormReady" county.

The StormReady program encourages communities to take a new, proactive approach to improve preparedness. The nationwide community preparedness program uses a grassroots approach to help communities develop plans to handle local severe weather and flooding threats. The program provides communities with clear-cut advice from a partnership with the local Weather Service Office, state and local emergency managers, and the media.

StormReady was started in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as a local effort to educate residents about storm safety. In Northeast Iowa, Fayette County is also recognized as StormReady.

"Every year, around 500 Americans lose their lives to severe weather and floods," Shea said. "More than 10,000 thunderstorms, 2,500 floods, and 1,000 tornadoes impact the United States annually. Potentially deadly weather can impact every person in the country. That's why the National Weather Service developed the StormReady program."

More information on the StormReady program is located on the web at https://www.weather.gov/StormReady